The Barents Sea was a frozen abyss, its waves crashing against the *Desert Star*'s hull as the polar research vessel sped toward Oslo under a starless Arctic sky. Khalid Al Maktoum stood in the bridge, his gold-plated Desert Eagle holstered, his platinum-encrusted satellite phone relaying encrypted data from Svalbard. Sultan, the Bengal white tiger cub, lay at his feet, his ivory fur stark against the steel floor, his blue eyes glowing with a predator's focus despite the thermal harness keeping him warm. The cub's low growl echoed the dread pulsing through the World Impact Matrix (WIM) interface: *Critical Anomaly: Future hub core online. Temporal rift risk: 70%. Immediate action required.* With 15,000 points, stakes in Apple and HSBC, a Lamborghini, a Gulfstream jet, a Rolex, a Maldives island, a private security force, a falcon drone, and the Burj Al Arab blueprint, Khalid's empire was a colossus, but the reactivated Svalbard hub—broadcasting to beyond 2040—threatened to unravel reality itself.
The Watcher's Dubai network was eradicated, Saeed exiled, and the WIM's secrecy ensured by the *Time Anomaly Shield*. The Svalbard hub, a temporal node linked to 2019–2045, had been disabled, its signal silenced by the *Temporal Signal Disruptor*, but its sudden reactivation suggested a failsafe or external trigger. The frigate attack, led by HSBC contractor Freya Adler, was neutralized, confirming HSBC's greed-driven sabotage, not a Watcher resurgence. But Freya's warning—*bigger players watching*—and the hub's 2040 signal hinted at a deeper conspiracy, possibly tied to Khalid's 2045 rebirth. The system's mission pulsed: *Neutralize HSBC's sabotage and expand Desert Star Ventures globally. Reward: 15,000 points (partial completion).* Meryl Streep's film project and Vikram's Bangalore tech hub awaited his return, but the temporal rift was priority one.
The system chimed, offering a new opportunity:
**Impact Opportunity: Return to Svalbard and permanently disable the future hub core. Reward: 25,000 points. Bonus: +15,000 points if you prevent a temporal rift without exposing the WIM.**
Khalid's *Tech Visionary Mindset* calculated risks: returning to Svalbard meant facing unknown defenses, but delaying could collapse Dubai's reality. His *Elite Combat Training* readied him for battle, and the *Temporal Signal Disruptor* gave him an edge. The WIM 2.0 shop, capable of summoning assets, was critical. He opened it, scanning the limited options with his low points:
**System Shop: Expanded Inventory**
- *Yacht (Sunseeker Predator Prototype): 30,000 points. Delivers a luxury vessel.*
- *Emergency Temporal Stabilizer: 20,000 points. Reduces rift risk by 50% for 6 hours.*
- *High-Yield EMP Grenades (Set of 5): 15,000 points. Disables advanced tech in a 50-meter radius.*
- *Arctic Research Outpost Blueprint: 40,000 points. Provides plans for a Svalbard base.*
- *Global Influence Aura: 40,000 points. Enhances presence in international negotiations.*
His 15,000 points matched the *High-Yield EMP Grenades*. He spent them, his total dropping to 0. A case materialized, containing five sleek grenades, perfect for disabling hub defenses. Sultan nuzzled his leg, his growl a spark of courage. "Back to the ice, little king," Khalid said, ordering Captain Nils to reverse course for Svalbard.
Nils, his face grim, hesitated. "Your Highness, the hub's signal is jamming our radar. We're blind, and that ship's wreckage might've drawn attention."
Khalid's *Counter-Surveillance Expertise* confirmed the jamming. "Use manual navigation," he said. "My security force will handle threats. Sultan's ready."
The cub roared, his claws flexing, a beacon of defiance in the Arctic dark.
---
Svalbard's glacier loomed under a faint aurora, its icy cliffs cracked from the hub's reactivation. The *Desert Star* anchored in the fjord, and Khalid led his 20-man private security force ashore, Sultan bounding ahead, his tracking beacon pulsing. The crevasse to the hub's cavern was wider now, its ice walls glowing blue, vibrating with a hum that shook Khalid's bones. The *Time Anomaly Shield* flickered, strained by the rift's 70% risk, and the *Temporal Signal Disruptor* hummed, holding the signal at bay—for now. The system warned: *Temporal Rift Risk: 75%. Disable core within 3 hours.*
The cavern was transformed, the obsidian dome now pulsing with energy, its console projecting chaotic holograms—Dubai's skyline crumbling, Meryl's studio in flames, Khalid's death in 2045. A new device—a crystalline core, 10 meters tall—loomed at the center, its light distorting the air. The system flagged: *Future Hub Core: Linked to 2040+. Destroy to end signal.*
Khalid's *Enhanced Perception* detected drones—larger, armed with plasma cutters—patrolling the dome. "Spread out," he whispered to his team. "EMP grenades on my signal. Sultan, flank."
The cub slunk into the shadows, his stealth unnerving even Khalid's elite guards. As the drones approached, Khalid lobbed an EMP grenade, its pulse frying three machines. His team opened fire, their rifles echoing, while Sultan leaped, clawing a drone's sensors, sending it crashing. The system chimed: *Impact Progress: Defenses weakened. +5,000 points. Total: 5,000.*
But the core pulsed, summoning a holographic entity—taller, more defined, its voice a chilling echo. "Anomaly Al Maktoum, your interference ends. The timeline demands your erasure."
Khalid's *Negotiation Mastery* stalled it. "Your hub's breaking reality. Name your masters, or I end you."
The entity laughed, its form glitching. "We are the Custodians, beyond 2040, successors to the Watchers. Your rebirth disrupts causality. Submit, or Dubai falls."
Khalid's blood ran cold—his 2045 rebirth confirmed as the anomaly. The system roared: *Intel Gained: Custodians identified, post-2040 origin. +10,000 points. Total: 15,000.* He lobbed another EMP grenade at the core, its pulse dimming the holograms, but the entity persisted, summoning more drones. Khalid's *Elite Combat Training* fired the Desert Eagle, shattering two, while Sultan tackled another, his roar shaking the cavern.
"Target the core!" Khalid shouted, dodging plasma bolts. His guards planted explosives, but the core's energy repelled them, cracking the ice above. The system warned: *Rift Risk: 85%. Stabilize or evacuate.*
Khalid activated the *Temporal Signal Disruptor*, its pulse weakening the core's signal. The entity flickered, screaming, "You cannot stop the future!" He threw his last EMP grenade, hitting the core's base, causing it to shudder. His team detonated the explosives, and the core imploded, its light vanishing. The cavern shook violently, ice collapsing, but Sultan's roar guided Khalid's team to the exit. The system erupted: *Impact Opportunity Complete: Core disabled, rift prevented. +25,000 points. Bonus: +15,000 points for WIM secrecy. Total: 55,000.*
---
Aboard the *Desert Star*, racing from Svalbard, Khalid analyzed the core's fragments, downloaded to his secure drive. The Custodians, a post-2040 evolution of the Watchers, aimed to "recalibrate" anomalies like Khalid, using hubs to control timelines. The Svalbard node was offline, but the central core—beyond 2040—remained. The system updated: *Mission Progress: Svalbard core neutralized. +10,000 points. Total: 65,000.* The rift risk dropped to 0%, and Dubai's quakes should cease permanently.
Khalid opened the WIM 2.0 shop, his points a lifeline:
**System Shop: Expanded Inventory**
- *Global Media Network Seed: 60,000 points. Founds a future media empire.*
- *Yacht (Sunseeker Predator Prototype): 30,000 points. Delivers a luxury vessel.*
- *Private Security Force Expansion: 35,000 points. Doubles elite guard unit size.*
- *Arctic Research Outpost Blueprint: 40,000 points. Provides plans for a Svalbard base.*
- *Temporal Rift Scanner: 30,000 points. Detects future hub activity globally.*
He spent 30,000 points on the *Temporal Rift Scanner*, his total dropping to 35,000. A compact device materialized, capable of tracking Custodian signals worldwide, ensuring preparedness. A second purchase—25,000 points for a *Platinum-Encrusted Combat Knife*—summoned a sleek blade, perfect for close-quarters threats. His total fell to 10,000.
A satellite call from Meryl warmed the Arctic cold: "Khalid, the studio's ready for our first scene. Dubai's buzzing about you. Get back safe." The system pinged: *Romantic Opportunity: Return for Meryl's studio visit. Reward: 5,000 points.*
"I'm coming, Meryl," Khalid said, his *Enhanced Loyalty Aura* soothing her. "We'll make history." The system chimed: *Romantic Progress: +2,000 points. Total: 12,000.*
Vikram's message followed: "Bangalore's hub is drawing global investors. HSBC's backing off, thanks to your Barclays move. You're unstoppable."
The system pinged: *Mission Complete: HSBC sabotage neutralized, Desert Star Ventures expanded. +15,000 points. Total: 27,000.*
But Captain Nils burst in, his face ashen. "Your Highness, our scanner caught a new signal—not Svalbard, but Dubai. It's faint, dated 2045, and it's targeting your palace."
The system glitched, flashing red: *New Anomaly: Custodian signal in Dubai. Investigate immediately. Reward: 30,000 points.* Sultan roared, his claws unsheathing, and Khalid's pulse surged. The Custodians were striking his home, threatening Meryl, Vikram, and his empire. As the cub's fierce eyes met his, Khalid vowed to crush this new threat and secure his legacy across time.